Mr. X, a senior officer, was overseeing a critical vaccination programme during a pandemic. He found that a private service provider responsible for vaccine distribution was compromising on quality to make profits. Despite immense pressure to manage the issue due to vested interests, he raised his voice based on the principles of public administration which he learnt during various training programmes attended across his career. He reported the issue to the appropriate vigilance authority and halted the contract to ensure citizen welfare. Which one among the following principles of public administration was most strongly demonstrated by Mr. X’s actions ?
- (a) Esprit de corps
- (b) Equity
- (c) Accountability ✓ UPSC's answer
- (d) Delegation
Why the answer is (c)
• Accountability means an official answers for outcomes and takes responsibility for acting when public interest is threatened, even at personal or political cost.
• Mr. X detected a contractor compromising vaccine quality, resisted pressure from vested interests, reported to the vigilance authority and halted the contract — each step is an act of answerability to citizens and to the rules.
• Esprit de corps (Fayol) is team spirit and unity among staff; it is not what drove his action.
• Equity means fairness and impartial treatment of citizens; the case concerns integrity of delivery, not equal treatment.
• Delegation is assigning authority downward; Mr. X exercised his own responsibility rather than delegating it. Hence option (c).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) Esprit de corps
- Esprit de corps is about team unity, not answerability for public outcomes.
- (b) Equity
- Equity concerns fair treatment of citizens, not the integrity of a contract.
- (d) Delegation
- Delegation is passing authority to subordinates; Mr. X acted himself.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026, held on 24 May 2026. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.